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Breeders' Cup Pre-entries Draw 104 Runners17 October 2002ILLINOIS – As reported by the Thoroughbred Times: "With only three of the eight races oversubscribed, the first Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Arlington Park figures to feature small but contentious fields laden with quality runners from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. "A total of 104 horses were pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup races, matching last year's total that was the lowest in the four years the event has included the $1-million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1). A record 135 pre-entries were received for the 2000 Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs, and the all-time low was for the inaugural running in 1984, when only 77 runners were pre-entered. "Eight runners were supplemented for this year's event on October 26, down from ten a year ago. "…The $1-million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) attracted the most pre-entries with 24, including the talented European duo of Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) and Hawk Wing, two of ten runners pre-entered for Breeders' Cup races by Irish-based trainer Aidan O'Brien. Rock of Gibraltar and Hawk Wing are also pre-entered in the $4-million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), but only one is expected to start. O'Brien also entered Landseer (GB) in the Mile. "The Classic drew a full field of 14 pre-entries, including a group of six three-year-olds led by Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War Emblem, Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Came Home, and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Medaglia d'Oro. "…The Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), which could feature a showdown between champion Xtra Heat and Orientate, also overfilled with 16 pre-entries. Kona Gold, winner of the 2000 Sprint in the year he earned an Eclipse Award and on the board in two other runnings of the Sprint, is among those entered, along with Bonapaw, Carson Hollow, Gygistar, Kalookan Queen, and Swept Overboard. "The only other race to overfill was the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), which features multiple entries from trainers O'Brien, Bob Baffert, and Patrick Biancone. John Ward Jr. has Hopeful Stakes (G1) and Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (G2) winner Sky Mesa pre-entered and the Pulpit colt figures to be one of the main contenders along with Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (G3) winner Vindication and Futurity Stakes (G1) winner Whywhywhy. O'Brien has entered five colts, (although two are on the also eligible list), with recent Group 1 winner Hold That Tiger a strong contender…" |